Pyroxylin automatic electric fire-alarm.



Patented Feb. 1.3, I900.

J. DE FRDMENT.

PYROXYLIN AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM.

(Application filed July 26, 1899.

{No Model.)

WITNESSES."

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NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEHAN DE FROMENT, OF NOTRE DAME DE LOURDES, CANADA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,491, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed July 26, 1899. Serial No.725,178. (No model.)

To all whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, J EHAN DE FRoMEN'r, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residingatNotre Dame de Lourdes, county of Rock Lake, in the Province of Manitoba and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Alarm, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved automatic alarm which is very simple and durable in construction, effective in operation, and more especially designed as a fire-alarm and arranged to instantly sound an alarm in a distant place or actuate a sprinkling or other fire-extinguishing apparatus in case of anyincipient conflagration and at the same time give the exact location of the fire.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement arranged as an electric fire-alarm with the circuit-closer in an open position, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the circuit-closer in a closed position.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, an indicator or annunciator A, of any approved construction, and an alarm-bell B are in a circuit having a battery 0 or other source of electricity, circuit-wires D D being connected with contact-posts E E, respectively, of a controller F, shown in the form of a circuit-closer and normally held inactive, as indicated in Fig. 1, by means hereinafter more fully described. The circuit-closer is provided with two members G G, carrying the contact-posts E E, respectively, and pivotally connected with each other at G with a spring H for closing these members and bringing the posts in contact with each other to close the circuit and sound the alarm B and actuate the indicator in case of a fire, as hereinafter more fully described. The two members G G are locked in an open position against the tension of the spring H by a cord I, tied around the ends of the members opposite the contact-p0sts, and the said cord extends over a charge of an easily-inflammable material J, such as pyroxylin, held in recesses in said members, the cord being preferably in direct contact with said material. From the material J lead a number of strings J", of like material as the charge, preferably pyroxylin, spun in very thin threads and extending to various parts of a room, so that in case of a fire the threads are ignited and finally ignite the charge J, which burns the cord I, so as to release the members G G. When this takes place, the spring H at once moves the members G G into a closed position to bring the posts E E in contact, whereby the circuit is closed and the alarm is sounded, and the indicator announces the room' or place where the fire started. It is understood that any desired number of such circuitclosers may be connected with the indicator, according to the size of the building to be protected against fire.

Itis understood that pyroxylin that ignites at about 130 Centigrade is very serviceable for the purpose, as it is very quick in action when ignited, produces a bright flame with very little heat, and hence does not set fire to its surroundings, but actuates the controller, so that the alarm is sounded almost instantly and before vthe fire has gained any headway.

The pyroxylin used is not at all dangerous, it properly being trinitrocellulose. According to the best chemical analysis the conversion of pure cotton or cellulose may be expressed by the following formula:

The cord is preferably impregnated with nitrate of potash.

From the foregoing it is evident that the apparatus is instantaneousthat is, works instantaneously at the leastincipient contlagrationis in itself without danger, and Works under all circumstances or conditions.

The threads J can be placed on walls, fur niture, or floors, and Whether cold or Warm the apparatus Will work with the same quickness.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A thermostatic apparatus comprising an actuated device, an operating device there- I circuit-closerhavingspring-pressedmembers, for, said operating device comprising spring- I a cord forlocking the members'in an open p0- pressed members, a continuous locking-cord sition, a charge of pyroxylin held on said memengaging both members and having an unbers, withfthe cord in contact with the charge,

5 broken stretch between them, and a charge and threads of pyroxylin leading from said L5 of highly-inflammable material independenteharge in different directions, as set forth.

of the locking-cord, said charge being held beo JEHAN DE FROMENT. tween the said members and engaging the Witnesses: N cord. JosEPH BERNIER,

[o 2. An electric fire-alarm provided with a FRED. O. HUBBARD. 

